'Did you not think...': Internet slams YouTuber for not asking follow-up on Barack Obama’s alien remarks

Obama says aliens are “real” but admits he hasn’t seen them. (Image credit: X)

• Obama says he believes extraterrestrial life exists
• Obama jokes he was not told about aliens or secret facilities
• Social media criticizes lack of follow-up questions on aliens

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Former US President Barack Obama said in a podcast with YouTuber Brian Tyler Cowen on Saturday that he believes extraterrestrial life exists, but admitted that he does not know where such beings might be.

“They're real, but I haven't seen them, and they're not being kept in – what is it?” Obama said, speaking during the No Lie podcast with Brian Tyler Cohen. “There's no underground facility, unless there's this enormous conspiracy and they hid it from the president of the United States.”

I asked @BarackObama if aliens are real. pic.twitter.com/ZPw5zT9PfD

— Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) February 14, 2026

“What was the first question you wanted answered when you became president?” Cohen asked.

“Where are the aliens?” Obama responded with a laugh.

Critics on social media pointed out that Brian Tyler Cohen missed the opportunity to ask follow-up questions when Obama opened the conversation about aliens and Area 51, calling him incompetent.

Yeah and then asked ZERO follow-ups when a fmr POTUS literally told you Aliens are real. This is not a flex this is one of the most epic interview fumbles of all time.

Well done. — Jay Anderson (@TheProjectUnity) February 15, 2026

The best part is even after you try to move along to the next question, he gives you the opportunity to come back to the same point and you just blow ahead again anyways. Just remarkable incompetence. pic.twitter.com/F8c2MIRAj2

— Mark Valorian (@markvalorian) February 15, 2026

Congrats on the interview, but given that Obama said aliens are real, did you not think to ask him to elaborate on his answer? Surely if a former President says he believes aliens are real, it makes sense to ask why he believes that / what evidence he has... Was it nerves? Did… — Gordon (@gorcampbell) February 14, 2026

Ever heard of something called "a follow up question"!? pic.twitter.com/4iOjgkHOF7

— John W. Ratcliff (@jratcliff) February 15, 2026

About Area 51

Located at Groom Lake, Nevada, Area 51 is a secretive US Air Force facility that conspiracy theorists have long claimed stores alien spacecraft and evidence of extraterrestrial life.

Some believe that Area 51’s secret operation included examining and reverse engineering alien craft, including debris allegedly recovered from Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947.

According to The Independent, some theories suggest Area 51 is involved in developing advanced technologies, such as intergalactic weapons and time travel, to teleportation devices and weather-control systems.

Since the podcast episode aired on Brian Tyler Cohen's YouTube channel, social media users have reacted strongly to Obama’s remarks about alien life.

Who is Brian Tyler Cohen?

Born on January 12, 1989, Brian Tyler Cohen is an American YouTuber, progressive podcast host, author, and political commentator. In his political podcast No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen on his YouTube channel, he interviews political figures, reports on politics, and live-streams events, including debates and election results.

Brian Tyler Cohen recently interviewed former President Barack Obama, which has gone viral on the internet.